Sustainable Construction Strategy
The Strategy for sustainable construction is a joint industry and Government initiative intended to promote leadership and behavioural change, as well as delivering benefits to both the construction industry and the wider economy.
It aims to realise the shared vision of sustainable construction by:
- Providing clarity to business on the Government's position by bringing together diverse regulations and initiatives relating to sustainability;
- Setting and committing to higher standards to help achieve sustainability in specific areas;
- Making specific commitments by industry and Government to take the sustainable construction agenda forward.
The business case for the sustainable construction agenda is based on:
- Increasing profitability by using resources more efficiently;
- Firms securing opportunities offered by sustainable products or ways of working;
- Enhancing company image and profile in the market place by addressing issues relating to Corporate and Social Responsibility.
This Strategy involves a shared recognition of the need to deliver a radical change in the sustainability of the construction industry.
Strategy Development
This Strategy's development was co-ordinated by BERR in conjunction with the Strategic Forum for Construction. However, construction activity cuts across governmental boundaries. In recognition of this, the strategy was co-authored by several other departments, including Communities and Local Government, Defra, DIUS, the Office of Government Commerce and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Industry input has been channelled through the Strategic Forum for Construction.
The final strategy was released on 11th June 2008.
Progress Report on the Strategy for Sustainable Construction
The Progress Report on the Strategy for Sustainable Construction was launched on the 15th September 2009. Overall, progress has been good and encouraging at this early stage of the process. However, with some deliverables progress has been slower than envisaged in the original Strategy and work is ongoing to address these. As delivery of the Strategy continues, further work to build on the successes already achieved will be necessary to reach the overarching goals of the Strategy.
To order a free hard copy of either the Strategy for Sustainable Construction or the Progress Report '09 please ring 0845 015 0010, contact the BIS publications team at publications@bis.gsi.gov.uk, quoting document reference URN 08/973 for the Strategy for Sustainable Construction, or URN 09/1244 for the Progress Report '09. Or alternatively follow this link to the BIS Publications web site for the Strategy for Sustainable Construction or this link for the Progress Report '09.
Delivery
To deliver the Strategy, Government and industry have devised a set of overarching targets related to the ‘ends’ and ‘means’ of sustainable construction. The ‘ends’ relate directly to sustainability issues, such as climate change and biodiversity; the ‘means’ describe processes to help achieve the ‘ends’.
The table below sets out overarching targets and the chapters of the Strategy in which they are discussed.
| Chapter Headings | Overarching Target |
|---|
| The ‘Means’
|
Procurement |
To achieve improved whole life value through the promotion of best practice construction procurement and supply side integration, by encouraging the adoption of the Construction Commitments in both the public and private sectors and throughout the supply chain. |
| Design |
The overall objective of good design is to ensure that buildings, infrastructure, public spaces and places are buildable, fit for purpose, resource efficient, sustainable, resilient, adaptable and attractive. Good design is synonymous with sustainable construction. Our aim is to achieve greater use of design quality assessment tools relevant to buildings, infrastructure, public spaces and places. |
| Innovation |
To enhance the industry’s capacity to innovate and increase the sustainability of both the construction process and its resultant assets. |
People
|
An increase in organisations committing to a planned approach to training (e.g. Skills Pledges; training plans; Investors in People or other business support tools; Continuous Professional Development (CPD); life long learning). |
| Reduce the incidence rate of fatal and major injury accidents by 10% year on year from 2000 levels. |
| Better Regulation |
A 25% reduction in the administrative burdens affecting the private and third sectors, a 30% reduction in those affecting the public sector by 2010. |
The ‘Ends’
|
Climate Change Mitigation |
Reducing total UK carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by at least 60% on 1990 levels by 2050 and by at least 26% by 2020. Within this, Government has already set out its policy that new homes will be zero carbon from 2016, and an ambition that new schools, public sector non-domestic buildings and other non-domestic buildings will be zero carbon from 2016, 2018 and 2019 respectively. |
| Climate Change Adaptation |
To develop a robust approach to adaptation to climate change, shared across Government. |
| Water |
To assist with the Future Water vision to reduce per capita consumption of water in the home through cost effective measures, to an average of 130 litres per person per day by 2030, or possibly even 120 litres per person per day depending on new technological developments and innovation. |
| Biodiversity |
That the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity within and around construction sites is considered throughout all stages of a development. |
| Waste |
By 2012, a 50% reduction of construction, demolition and excavation waste to landfill compared to 2008. |
| Materials |
That the materials used in construction have the least environmental and social impact as is feasible both socially and economically. |
Useful links
Queries on this subject may be referred to – the Construction Sector Unit
